Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Cross
Awarded on: 2009-10-07
Invested on: 2010-06-04
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Winnipeg was deployed to the Gulf of Aden, from March to June 2009, on Canada’s inaugural counter-piracy mission. As commanding officer, Commander Baines’ operational focus enabled the ship to integrate seamlessly into the NATO-led task force and to make aggressive use of its many resources to disrupt pirate activity. He worked closely with the media to ensure that extensive coverage of Canadian naval excellence was projected in media outlets worldwide. Commander Baines’ outstanding leadership significantly contributed to international counter-piracy efforts.